Hi,
My name is Dave.
I need to get this off my chest so if you are reading this thanks for listening and please forgive me not being great with words.
Be warned. This is not a happy tail.
I have always loved dogs, despite my first experience with them being bitten by one!
After 10 years of being with my girlfriend I proposed, she thankfully said yes and we made arrangements to see the vicar etc etc. Whilst the church was well known by my fiancé the vicar was not and when we went to see him for the first time he just happened to have a beautiful working cocker and five delightful 12 day old puppies in the vicarage.
I bit my tongue while we were there discussing wedding arrangements but the second we left I forgot all that and we got down to discussing the important business of when I was finally allowed a dog of my own!
It was agreed that now was an excellent time and a few weeks later Meg was welcomed into our home. She came almost everywhere with me and over the next 13 months became the second most important aspect of my life. We spent about 16 hours a day together and we had so much fun. Emotionally she was like the child I do not yet have. I think most people reading this will understand that bond.
In May we got married ( it was fantastic). Meg stayed with my mother in law for our honeymoon and I don’t mind admitting, it was hard to be parted with her for a full 10 days.
Not long after it was time to have her neutered (or not) but we decided it was for the best, as we did not foresee it practical for her to have a litter. I always thought it such a shame though as she was so lovely.
I am not sure why but I was nervous about the procedure from the start. I rang the vet to arrange it whilst we were in the park on a walk. The minute I got off the phone I felt sick. Meg loved people, all except that is for the vet. It stemmed from having the kennel cough vaccination which goes up the nose, and from that day she was not at all happy being there.
I knew it was not going to be easy so I arranged for Meg to be seen to first. I held her whilst the pre op was administered and as it did not seem to have much effect I held her while the main anaesthetic was given. Meg went to sleep and I went about my business.
About 50 minutes later I received the call we all dread.
My beautiful little girl had not made it. She had come round but had suffered a heart attack and did not pull through.
Strangely comforting was the fact that the vet and all his team were genuinely as distraught as we were. On the back of what happened he took a month off and re evaluated his masters. It was the first healthy dog he had lost in 25 years.
I do not blame him for what happened.
She was such a ‘daddys girl’ I think she came round saw what she perceived to be a threat and panicked. The vet said that this was too much of an easy excuse for him, and would not accept that explanation but I knew her better than anyone.
I miss her soooooooooooooo much. I have her ashes in the kitchen and often talk to her.
A few weeks ago I was in tears over my Meg but remembering the reasons I got a dog in the first place I contacted a breeder expecting to be on a long waiting list but was surprised to find that they had had a litter only a week before we agreed to go and visit them.
The whole litter was lovely, the mother was lovely and the people were lovely so We have a new friend arriving on Saturday
It is very exciting, scary and also very sad
None of you have met me or Meg before ( except top barks whilst we were in York one day) But the advice on here was very useful relating to Meg and I am sure it will continue to be with our new friend
I have been reading posts on here for almost 16 months but have never actually posted so thanks to all of you who have unknowingly given advice, and thanks to those of you who will undoubtedly do so in the future .
Spare a thought for Meg. She was lovely.
All the best
Dave
